Former sumo great admits row over dog poo

Giant Sumo Konishiki is challenged by a young Melbourne school boy on June 6, 1997. Hawaiian-born former sumo wrestler Konishiki admitted on December 15, 2011 he "touched" a neighbour during a dispute over dog poo. Konishiki, 47, now a popular television personality in Japan, said on his blog that he was trying to defend his wife over charges she had allowed her dog to foul on private property. AFP FILE PHOTO

TOKYO—Hawaiian-born former sumo wrestler Konishiki admitted Thursday to a physical confrontation with a neighbor in a dispute over dog poo.

Konishiki, 47, now a popular television personality in Japan, said on his blog that he was trying to defend his wife over charges she had allowed her dog to foul on private property in Tokyo.

Media reports said Konishiki, who weighed 275 kilograms (606 pounds) during his time in the ring, pushed a man who demanded that the former wrestler’s wife clean up the mess.

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The incident happened on November 12 as the couple walked their dogs near an apartment building.

She denied that her dog was responsible and tried to walk away, the apartment owner’s son told the Sports Nippon newspaper.

Konishiki stepped between them and pushed the man, who was not injured but reported the incident to police as an assault, Kyodo News said.

“It is true that I had trouble with a neighbor while walking our dogs,” the former champion said on his blog.

“I became emotional while trying to protect my wife, and touched the person. I regret the incident as we failed to show thorough consideration. I apologize to my fans,” he said.

Media reports said the case had been referred to Tokyo public prosecutors as an alleged assault.

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